Sheet feeder



0d. 15, 194D.v Q 1 2,218,401

man'r manta Filed Aug. 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE A.MARTIN ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1940. G. A. MARTIN SHEET FEEDER Filed Aug. 22,1938 s snee' s-shee 2 h E a 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. Af MARTIN SHEET FEEDERFiled Aug. 22, 1938 IMEQM Oct. 15, 1940.

INVENTOR GEORGE A. MARTIN Patented a. 15', 1940 PATENT OFFICE simmmannaGeorge A. Martin, Pearl River, N. Y., minor to Dexter Folder Company,Pearl River, N. 2., a

corporation of New York Application August 22, loss, Serial No. 226,050

This invention relates to sheet feeders and while capable of general useis more particularly adapted for embodiment in feeders for feedingsheets of tin, black iron, aluminum, and the like, to printing presses,punch presses, coating and varnishing machines, and various otherinstrumentalities employed in -the processing or makingof metal articlesor containers.

One object of the present invention -is to pro vide a sheet feeder ofthe "double-end chain elevator type having a pile support so constructedthat a pile of sheets may be run directly into the feeder and directly.loaded therein on said elevator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder ofthe "double-end chain elevator type which can be loaded or reloadeddirectly therein with a pile of sheets and the elevator of which withthe pile can be bodily shifted as a unit to properly position said pilein the feeder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feederhaving an improved pile elevator so constructed and arranged that a pileof sheets thereon may be bodily shifted easily and conveniently toproper position in the feeder.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear asthefollowing description thereof proceeds and in order to more clearly,

understand said invention reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sheet feeder embodying the presentinvention and particularly adapted for feeding metal sheets;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the feeder in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a pile support forming part of a pileelevator shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the pile support onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is a front elevation of the pile support showing a device forbodily shifting the same; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, ofthe pile support, showing a rolling 'carriage for bodily shifting a pileof sheets thereon.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views, the various movable parts ofthe feeder as well as certain stationary parts thereof are mounted on aframe comprised by front uprights 6 and rear uprights 6 connected shownframe.

16 Claims. (01. 271-42) together by side members I (Figs. 1 and 2). Theuprights 5 and 6 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the machinefoundation, the front uprights 5 being connected together by cross beams8 bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and the rear uprights 6being connected together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft 9. Boltedor otherwise suitably secured to the cross beams 8 and spaced therefrom,as by spacer bars I!) (Figs. 1 and 3), is a metal apron or pile plate llagainst which the front side of a supply or pile of metal or othersheets lzbears during elevation of the same. a

In accordance with the present invention the feeder is provided with adouble-end chain type pile elevator which can be directly loaded orreloaded in the feeder with a pile-of metal or other sheets, as from atruck or other device that may be run into the feeder through the rearthereof; with novel means whereby the pile of sheets may be shifted onthe elevator to proper position in the feeder; and with improved meansfor bodily shifting the pile elevator and the pile of sheets laterallyas a unit to properly position said pile in the feeder. elevator andmeans are preferably constructed as follows.

Extending transversely of the feeder adjacent the metal apron or pileplate H is a channel member I3 which. has welded or otherwise suitablysecured thereto a pair of spaced horizontal tubular arms I! which,together with the member l3 form a U-shaped frame or support that isindicated broadly at l5 (Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive) and is open at the rearthereof. Engaged over and welded or otherwise suitably secured to thetubular arms I l are spaced angle plates I 6 which, as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 3, project laterally from said arms. Connected with theangle plates I6, as by couplings H, are corresponding extremities ofdouble-end chains l8 (Figs. 1 and 2) the links of which engage in theteeth of sheaves it! that arevfixed on, and rotated by, shafts 20 atopposite sides of the feeder These shafts 20 are lournalled in suitablebearings in brackets 2| and 22' which are bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the uprights 5 and 6, respectively. The pile of sheets I! isloaded on the support l5 as hereinafter de scribed, and shafts 20 aredriven intermittently to keep the top of the plie at the proper feedinglevel. Shafts 20 may also be driven continuously to rapidly raise andlower the U-shaped frame or support I5 for loading or reloadingpurposes. In either case the drive for shafts 20 is obtained As hereinshown said pile from a suitable source of power by gearing connectedtherewith and including worm wheels 23 fixed on said shafts and meshingwith worm gears 24 fixed on a shaft 25. Shaft 25 extends transversely ofthe feeder frame and is journalled in suitable bearings in the brackets2|.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the channel member l3 and angleplates l6 at the tops thereof are horizontal rails 28 provided withguide members 21 having beveled edges 28. Resting on, and movable alongthe horizontal rails 26 are rolling carriages indicated broadly at 29(Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive) by which the pile of sheets [2 may be freelymoved on the U-shaped frame or support l5 into proper position againstthe metal apron or pile plate ll. These carriages 29 are comprised by aplurality of spaced rollers 30 journalled between side bars 3|, andsmall channel members 32 resting on the rollers 30 and movable relativethereto. It will thus appear that when the carriages 29 are moved alongthe rails 26 the small channel members 32 will have a movement twicethat of the rollers 30 due to the rolling action of said rollers plusthe longitudinal movement thereof. In this manner the pile of sheets l2can be quickly and freely moved on the U-shaped frame or support 15against the metal apron or pile plate H.

When it is desired to initially, load the feeder, the U-shaped frame orsupport I5 is lowered to the machine foundation or to a predeterminedposition depending on the height of the truck or other device used forloading the elevator. A

- pile board 33 having runners 34 secured in any suitable manner onopposite sides thereof is then placed on a truck such as indicatedbroadly at 35 and loaded with a pile of metal or other sheets l2. Atthis time the truck 35, pile board 33 and pile of sheets l2 thereon arebacked into the feeder between the tubular arms M as shown in Figs. 1and 2 so that the opposite sides of the pile board 33 will be disposedslightly above the rolling carriages 29 which are in the position shownin full .lines in Figs. 3, 4 and 6.

When the truck 35, pile board 33 and pile of sheets l2 are run into thefeeder as aforesaid, the elevator which has been previously stopped forloading of the sheets thereon is again started so that the chains it arerapidly raised and the U-shaped frame or support I5 is moved upwardly.The carriages 29 on the U-shaped frame or support 15 engage the bottomof the pile board 33 and through continued rapid elevation of said frameor support the pile board 33 and pile of sheets l2 thereon are liftedfrom the truck 35 and elevated until the top of said pile is at properheight for feeding of the sheets therefrom one after another ashereinafter described. During rapid elevation of the U-shaped frame orsupport l5, the pile board 33 and pile of sheets l2 thereon are quicklyand freely moved forward on the carriages 29 by the machine attendantuntil the front side of said pile engages the metal apron or pile plateII and is properly squared thereagainst.

In the event the elevated pile of sheets i2 is not properly positionedlaterally of the feeder, due to improper loading of the same on the pileboard 33, the U-shaped frame or support 5 together with the pile board33 and pile of sheets l2 may be bodily shifted sidewise to properlyposition the pile with respect to the machine with which the feeder isassociated. This side provided on the extended threaded end thereof witha clamping handle 4| for clamping the link 38 against the channel memberl3 and locking the U-shaped frame or support IS in its adjustedposition. Bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bar 36 is a pairof spaced blocks 42 which engage opposite sides of the metal apron orpile plate ll. 'Secured to or formed integrally with the link 38 is' ahandle 43 by which sidewise adjustment of the U-shaped frame or supportI5 'is accomplished. It will thus appear that when the handle 43 ismoved in opposite directions and through engagement of the blocks 42with opposite sides of the metal apron or pile plate II, the U-shapedframe or support I5 will be shifted bodily sidewise in oppositedirections to properly align the pile of sheets with respect to themachine with which the feeder is associated. The support i5 is thenlocked in'its adjusted position by the clamping handle 4|.

The sheets of pile l2 are separated and forwarded one after another fromthe top thereof by suction sheet separating devices and suction sheetforwarding devices indicated broadly at 44 and 45, respectively (Figs. 1and 2) which are suitably connected with the housing 46 of a valvemechanism 41. The mounting, construction and operation of the sheetseparating devices 44, the sheet forwarding devices 45 and the valvemechanism 4'! is the same as the mounting, construc tion and operationof the sheet separating devices, the sheet forwarding devices and thevalve mechanism disclosed in the application Serial No. 116,692 ofLeonard Baker, George A. Martin and Leo C. Williams, filed December 19,1936, and needs no detail description herein. The separated andforwarded sheets are delivered to conveying means including atransversely extending feed roller 48 journalled in suitable bearings inthe front uprights 5, and a plurality of tapes 49 passing around saidfeed roller.

When the sheets of the initial pile i2 are cornpletely exhausted and itis desired to reload the feeder, the U-shaped frame or support 45 isagain rapidly lowered to the machine foundation or to a predeterminedposition and stopped. The empty pile board 33 is removed from the U-shaped frame or support i5 and a new pile of sheets which had beenplaced on an auxiliary pile board and loaded on the truck 35 during thefeeding of the sheets from the initial pile is then backed into thefeeder and the hereinbefore described operations with respect to theinitial loading of the feeder are repeated. To facilitate removal of theempty pile board 33 from the U- shaped frame or support 15, a pair ofrollers 50 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) are preferably provided which arejournalled on pins 5i secured in any suitable manner on the guidemembers 21 at the rear ends thereof. The empty pile board thus rests onrollers 50 during removal of the board from the feeder.

At the time the empty pile board 33 is removed from the U'shaped frameor support l5, the rolling'carriages 28 are automatically movedrearwardly' toltheir full line positions by push springs 52 (Figs. ,x1,3 and 6) extending along rods 53 which are secured in any suitablemanner at opposite ends thereof on the guide members 21.

The springs 52 on rods 53 are disposed between collars 54 secured onsaid rods and plates 55 that are welded or otherwise sultably'securedtothe small channel members 32 and through which the rods 53 extend. Theplates 55 project Upon removal of the empty pile board 33 the carriages29 will be moved rearwardly against the rollers by the expanding actionof the springs 52 in readiness to receive a new load of sheets.

It will be noted that a pile elevator constructed in accordance with thepresent invention can be loaded or reloaded quickly and convenientlythereby increasing the amount of time of operation of the feeder andresulting in a greater ,output of sheets therefrom.

The present description and accompanying drawings set forth with more orless particularity a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is tobe expressly understood that said invention is notlimited to saidembodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including a support for a pile ofsheets, and rolling carriages mounted on the support and. extendinglongitudinally therealong at opposite sides thereof for properlypositioning the pile of sheets in said ing carriages mounted on the armsof said support and movable therealong for properly positioning apile ofsheets in said feeder.

3. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevatorincluding a support for a pile ofsheets, and rolling carriages comprised by relatively movable .membersmounted on the support and movable therealong i/for P p r y positionkigthe pile of sheets in said feeder.

4. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including a support for a pileofsheets, rolling carriages mounted on the support at opposite sidesthereof and movable therealong in one direction for properly positioningthe pile of sheets in said feeder, and means on the supportfor movingthe rolling carriages in the opposite direction.

5. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including a support comprised by apair of spaced arms connected together at their forward ends and forminga U-shaped frame open at the rear thereof for lifting a pile board andpile of sheets thereon from a loading truck or other device disposedbetween said arms, rolling carriages mounted on the arms of said supportand movable therealong in one direction for properly positionlng thepile ofsheets in said feeder and movable in the opposite direction intoposition for receivingthe pile board and pile of sheets thereon, andmeans on the support for moving the rolling carriages in said oppositedirection.

. 6. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including a support'for a pileof sheets, and rolling carriages mounted on the support for properlypositioning the pile of sheets in said, feeder, said rolling carriagesconsisting of lower'members proon and rolling along the support andupper members resting on said rollers and having a movement twice thatof the lower members.

7. In a sheet feeder, a pileelevator including a support comprised by apair of spaced arms connected together at their forward ends and forminga U-shaped frame open' at the rear thereof for lifting a pile board andpile of sheets thereon from a loading truck or other device disposed.between said arms, rolling carriages mounted on the arms of said supportand movable therealong in one direction to receive the pile board andpile of sheets thereon and movable in the opposite direction to properlyposition the pile of sheets in said feeder, said rolling carriagesconsisting of lower members provided with a plurality of spaced rollersresting on and movable along said armsand upper membersresting on therollers and movable relative to said lower members, and spring means onthe arms and acting on said upper members formoving the rollingcarriages to pile board and pile receiving position.

8. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator including a U-shaped frame orsupport open at the rear.

thereof and comprised by a pair of spaced arms connected together attheir forward ends for.

lifting a pile board and pile of sheets thereon from a loading truck orother device disposed between said arms, a front pile plate, rollingcarriages mounted on the arms of said support and movable therealonginone direction to receive the pile board and pile of. sheets thereonand movvided with a plurality of spaced rollers resting able in theopposite direction to properly position the pile of sheets against saidfront .pile plate, spring means on the arms for moving the rollingcarriages to pile board and pile receiving position, means on thesupport and cooperating with the front pile plate for bodily shiftingsaid support sidewise to properly position the pile of sheets thereontransversely of the feeder, and means for locking said support shiftingmeans when the support is shifted as aforesaid.

9. In a sheet feeder having four laterally and longitudinally spacedvertically extending flexible pile elevating elements, a pile supportcomprising a pair of side members and a cross member rigidly connectedwith forward end portions of said side members and forming therewith aframe open at the rear thereof, and means for freely and solelysuspending the frame by the four flexible pile elevating elements andcomprising a plurality of attaching means connectedwith said flexiblepile elevating elements and extending from the side members of saidframe at front andrear portions thereof respectively.

10'. In a sheet feeder having four laterally and longitudinally spacedvertically extending flexible pile elevating elements, a pile supportcomprising a pair of side members anda cross member rigidly connectedwith forward end portions of said side members and forming therewith awith said flexible pile elevating elements, said attaching meansextending laterally from and being secured to the side members of saidframe.

' attaching means being secured to the side mem-- bers of said frame andextending laterally from and outwardly of said side members. 7

12. In a sheet feeder having four laterally and longitudinally spacedvertically extending flexible pile elevating elements, a pile supportcomprising a pair of tubular side members and a cross member of greaterheight than width disposed edgewise and secured to forward end portionsof' the tubular side members to form therewith a frame open atthe rearthereof, and means forfreely and solely suspending the frame by the fourflexible pile elevating elements and comprising a plurality of attachingmeans connected with said flexible pile elevating elements andextendingfrom the side members of said a frame.

13. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator comprising a support for apile of sheets and flexible elevating means secured to said support,means for shifting the-support and the flexible elevating meanslaterally to properly position the pile of sheets and comprisingstationaryj means independent of the pile support and shifting meansmovably mounted on said pile support and cooperating with saidstationary means.

14. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator comprising a support for apile of sheets and flexible elevating means secured to said support,means for shifting the support and the flexible elevating meanslaterally to properly position the pile of sheets and comprisingstationary means independent of the pile support and movable meanscooperating with said stationary means and comprising manually operatedmeans mounted on said pile support.

15. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator comprisinga support for apile of sheets and flexible elevating means secured to said support,means for shifting the support and flexible elevating means laterally toproperly position the pile of sheets and comprising stationary meansindependent of the pile support and a shifting element cooperating withsaid stationary means and movably mounted on said pile support, andmanually operated means carried on the pile support with said shiftingelement and operatively 4 connected therewith to operate the same.

16. In a sheet feeder having a pile elevator including flexibleelevatiing means, a support secured thereto for holding a pile of sheetsand including a front cross member, and stationary front pile guidingmeans, mechanism for shifting the support and the flexible elevatingmeans laterally to properly position the pile of sheets and comprisingshifting means movably mounted on the front cross member of the pilesupport and engaging said stationary front pile guiding means, and ahandle carried on said front cross member with the movably mountedshifting means and operatively connected therewith to operate the same.

GEORGE A. MARTIN.

